Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has conceded that his team may be out of the Premier League title race if they lose to Liverpool next weekend.
Pep made the remarks aftermath of a crushing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, which marked City’s fifth consecutive loss across all competitions and their third straight league defeat.
Speaking to reporters, Guardiola acknowledged the possibility of an insurmountable gap forming if Liverpool capitalizes on City’s struggles.
The Reds can move eight points clear at the top of the table with a win over Southampton on Sunday.
If City were to lose at Anfield next weekend, the deficit could extend to 11 points, a margin Guardiola admitted might be too large to recover.
“Yeah, it’s true,” Guardiola said when asked if such a gap would effectively end City’s title chances.
The City boss downplayed long-term predictions, emphasizing the need for his team to focus on improving their current form.
“We’re not thinking about winning or losing [the title]; we are not in the situation to think about what is going to happen at the end of the season,” Guardiola stated.
“If in the end we don’t win, it’s because we don’t deserve it. We won it in the past because we deserved it.”
City’s struggles have raised serious questions about their ability to defend their Premier League crown.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool next weekend is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the Premier League season.
With the possibility of an 11-point gap looming, the pressure is mounting on Pep Guardiola’s side to halt their losing streak and reignite their title defense.
While Guardiola remains hopeful, the champions face the daunting task of turning their form around against an in-form Liverpool, whose consistency could further cement their position at the top of the table.